Form-cylinder.



Patented Nov'. 2Ifl899. E. HETT.

FORM CYLINDER.

(Application led Nov. 7, 1895. Renewed Jan. 20, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(un Model.)

Pented Nov. 2|, i899. E. HETT.

FORM CYLINDER.

(Application filed Nov. 7, 1895. Renewed Jun. 20, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)A

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Waas@ esx Nifrnn STATES ATnNr Error..

EDWARD HETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FORNI-CYLINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,563, dated November 21, 1899.

Application tiled. November '7, 1895. Renewed January 20, 1899. Serial No. 702,845. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDWARD HETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, (New Dorp,) in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement'. in Printing-Forms and Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description and specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

My invention relates to hollow printingforms that are removable from an interior supporting device and replaceable thereon, and especially to planographic-printing forms and to such as are rounded or to such as are tubular.

It has for its object to more accurately and reliably and conveniently adapt and combine the printing-form and supporting device to and with each other and bothwith the shaft.

It is an improvement upon the construction shown in my application for patent, Serial No. 537,582,1iled February 7, 1895; andit consists of the mechanisms and devices herein set forth.

The accompanying drawings represen t acylindrical or tubular planographic-printing device embodying my improvements in the best form at present known to me.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

Figure l is a side view of the entire cylindrical printing device, lacking only the shaft, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, with the shaft, on the line sc of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 5 are end views taken from vopposite ends. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 Il of Fig. 2, omitting the shaft. Fig. 6 is an end view with certain parts removed. Fig. 7 is a side view of one end of the device, omitting the shaft. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the other end of the device, on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5, also omitting the shaft, one of the clamping devices being shown as loosened. Fig. 9 is a detail.

A is the supporting and driving shaft.

B is a collar or shoulder which is shrunk on the shaft or made integral therewith.

The form or supporting device or cylinder has a main cylindrical portion C, which is slightly tapered on itsexterior from 'end to end. I have found that a taper of one-sixteenth of an inch in a form-cylinder fortythree inches long and nine inches in diameter at its 1arger`end is suitable, this making the smaller diameter eight and fifteen-sixteenths inches. The cylindrical portion C of the form cylinder has two longitudinal grooves or slots D in its outer periphery to form a longitudinal sliding connection with the printing-tube.

E E are two end caps or collars or hubs or adjusting-supports keyed onthe shaft A and carrying the cylindrical portion C of the formcylinder. The latter has an inwardly-projecting ring F F at each end for the purposes of the attachment to these end hubs E. The rings F F are secured to the supporting-hubs E E by means of screw-bolts G. The cylindrical portion C of the form-cylinder is circumferentially adjustable on the supportinghubs E E (and so on the shaft) in the following manner: The hubs E E each have a lug or projection H, which carries a screw-threaded adjusting-bolt I, adapted to take snugly between two shoulders or lugs J J on the cylindrical portion C of the form-cylinder. The bolt I is squared at each end, so that it can readily be turned, and is screw-threaded along the middle of its length, where it takes in an internal screw-thread iu the lug H. Figs. 3, 5, and 7 show this construction. The screw-bolts G pass through slotted holes in the hubs E E, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. To accomplish a readjustment of the cylindrical portion of the form-cylinder on the supporting-hubs, loosen the bolts G at both ends of t-he cylinder, screw the adjusting-bolts I in the direction and to the extent desired, keeping both ends of the form-cylinder in a uniform adjustment, so as :to secure accuracy and prevent binding, and then tighten up all the screws G at both ends. The form-cylinder also has a central supporting and shaftsteadying collar or hub K, preferably made fast to or integral with the cylindrical portion C ofthe form-cylinder and a snug smoothbore fit for the shaft. This supports the shaft at its central parts, preventing bowing of the long shaft under the great pressure employed, and it also supports and stiffens the cylindrical portion of the form-cylinder. The shaft A is of great length, carrying gear-Wheels at its ends beyond the ends of the form-cylinder,

and the tendency to bend is considerable, although the form-cylinder does not ordinarily partake in such springing or bending. The cylindrical portion C of the form-cylinder has an adjustable stop or shoulder N at one end of it, the end of larger external diameter.

O is the hollow cylindrical printing surface or tube. It is internally tapered from end to end to correspond to the taper of the external surface of the form-cylinder, so that vit may readily be slipped on and oft` of the formcylinder and be a loose fit for the same until and unless it has reached approximately its proper seat on the same, when it is a snug and tight fit all along the length of the same. This taper is such as to give the printing-surface firm and solid support at every point from end to end when forced home toits seat. The printing-tube is non-tapering on its exterior surface and is in proper way prepared as a planographic surface and adapted to receive a design or transfer after the lithographic manner and to be thereafter developed into a printing-surface for that design. On its inner surface it has a lug or lugs P, which take in the grooves or slots D of the form-cylinder. In this way the printing-tube and the form-cylinder are connected by a spline. The printing-tube is slipped onto the form-cylinder, the lugs P traversing the slots D, and is forced home against the adjusting stop or collar N. In this forcing operation the form-cylinder, through one of the hubs E, takes against the collar or shoulder B on the shaft, whereby all endwise motion on the shaft is absolutely and reliably prevented. Two shoulders might be formed by enlarging the shaft in diameter between the hubs E E,correspondingly enlarging K. The printing-tube is held against the shoulder N by adjustable clamping-bolts Q, which screw into the form-cylinder and carry a projecting lip R, which projects over and engages with the printing-tube. The bolts Q are squared at the end, so as to be conveniently turned. Underneath a fixed shoulder they carry, loosely mounted upon a cylindrical part of the bolt,

the hub carrying the projecting lip R. This hub is squared and adapted to take loosely into a square recess S in the end of the formcylinder, beneath which is the threaded bore for the threaded part of the bolt Q. Vhen the bolts Q are sufficiently unscrewed,the hub and lip R may be turned. In this way when it is desired to get the lip out of the way of the printing-tube so as to remove the tube the bolt is sufficiently unscrcwed, the hub is turned ninety degrees and the bolt screwed down again. This keeps the lip reliably out of the way. Fig. 8 shows this in the case of one of the lips, the bolt not yet being screwed down, however. Tosecuretheprinting-tubein place, unscrew the bolt Q,turn the lip R until it projects over the end of the printing-tube, and then screw the bolt down again. To render the shoulder or stop N adjustable longitudinally of the form-cylinder, it is internally screwthreaded and is carried on the end of the formcylinder, which is externally screw-threaded for that purpose. To adjust it, turn it in its screw-thread as desired and then secure or lock it in its adjusted position in any practicable way, as by a pin driven into a hole suitably bored for the purpose. The clamps Q R are adjustable in the sense that they equally act as clamps whatever the adjustment of the shoulder or stop N, adjusting themselves in their clamping function and operation to the adjustment of that collar N.

To unseat the printing-tube from the formcylinder and start it off; when it is desired to remove it, I provide the screw-bolt T, which is suitably mounted in the form-cylinder so as not to move longitudinally therein when rotated, as by the two fixed collars shown in Fig. 2, and a traveling screw-threaded hub V, suitably held from rotating, but adapted to travel in a slot or groove inthe form-cylinder on the bolt T when the bolt T is rotated and having a projecting lip or finger adapted to take against the printing-tube or some part of it, as shown in Fig. 2. This boltT is squared at the end and may be conveniently turned by a handle with pawl-and-ratchet attachlnent, such as shown in Fig. 9.

The present improvements have especial reference to multicolor-printing and to the attaining of accurate and related transfers upon a series of rounded or cylindrical printingsurfaces and the accurate and related and simultaneous printing from the series, so as to obtain perfect and reliable register in continuous multicolor-presswork. The circumferential adjustment of the form-cylinder, and so of the printing-tube, with respect to the shaft is important in securing the ultimate and finer adjustments in that direction that the most careful and accurate building of a machine cannot certainly and always obtain. The longitudinal adjustment (attained by the adjustable stop N) is important in accu rately alining each printing-surface with all the other printing-surfaces of the series and in compensating for wear and for possible variations in special printing-tubes. The special clamping devices shown are well adapted to force the printing-tube well home to its seat against the stop N. The tapering of the printing-form and supporting device is of special value and importance in transferring after the lithographie manner and in planographic printing and in connection with the hollow planographic-printing forms of myinvention, which require repeated handlings in use in the transfer-press and in the printing-press and absolutely accurate placing and holding and adjustment and firmly solid support from end to end while receiving a transfer or printing an impression. The form-removing device is efficient and compact and out of the way. It may be duplicated in one and the same form-cylinder, if desired.

Modifications may be made in many features of the general mechanism without de- IOO IIO

parting from my invention-as, for instance, transferring of the adjusting means from the one to the other of the two members that are being adjusted with respect to each other. Thus the collar N might be made fixed and the abutting end of the printing-tube be made adjustable on the rest of the printing-tube. Again, the longitudinal slot D might be in the printing-tube, and the lug P in the form-cylinder. Again, the unseating device T V might be mounted in the printing-tube and take against a part of the form-cylinder. Again, the printing-form and the supporting device need not be tubular or cylindrical in cross-section, as they are shown to be in the drawings and as they are in the best form of the invention known to me; but they might be greatly varied in shape-as, for instance, they might be oval in cross-section, or, for the purposes of some parts of the invention, polygonal or rectilinear; but these and similar changes that might be suggested are only variations of and not departures from the invention.

I prefer to make the hollow printing-form thin, to the end that it may be light and easy to handle. lts form or shape gives it a maximum of strength for a given weight of metal, and its combination with the removable formsupport, tapered from end to end to correspond to the internal taper of the printingform itself, gives the requisite strength for printing and gives the uniformity of surface resistance in the transferring and printing operation which is necessary to uniform lithographic transferring or printing. rlhis uniformity of surface resistance is easy of attainment with massive and inflexible stones,

but it is difficult of attainment with thin and more or less iexible and sprin gy lithographieprinting surfaces, such as zinc sheets. It is absolutely necessary, however, to successful transferring or printing in lithography. My improved combination in its preferred form admirably attains that end.

For the purposes of some of the claims it is evident that the planographic surface of the printing-form when it shall have received its design or transfer after the lithographie manner need not be developed into a printingsurface that is strictly planographic or lithographic.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, substantially as described, of an interior supporting device, a hollow printing-form adapted to be seated upon it, and an unseating device to start the printing-form from the supporting device, the unseating deviceincludinga revoluble screwthreaded bolt T, mounted in the supporting device, and a screw-threaded hub V traveling thereon in a slot in the supporting device and having a projecting finger taking against the printing-form.

2. The combination with a hollow printingform and an interior supporting device having squared recess S and threaded hole, of au adjustable clamping device consisting of the threaded bolt Q having fixed collar, and of the lip R and squared carrying-hub mounted loosely on the bolt Q, substantially as described.

3. The combination, substantially as described, of an interior supporting device, a hollow printing-form, a longitudinal sliding connection between the two, an adjustable stop or shoulder to adjust the printing-form longitudinally on the supporting device, and

a clamping device to hold it in such adjusted position, a supporting and driving shaft, and a circumferentially -adjustable supporting connection between the supporting device and the shaft, whereby the printing-form may be adjusted both longitudinally and circumferentially with respect to the shaft and will then be positively held and driven in its adjusted position.

t. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, a hollow supporting device adapted to be mounted upon the shaft, a hollow printing-form adapted to be mounted upon the supporting device, and adjustable connecting mechanism whereby the printing-form is adapted for longitudinal and circumferential adjustmentwith respect to the shaft, the printing-form and supporting device being connected by a spline.

5. The combination, substantially as described, ot' a shaft, a hollow supporting device adapted to be mounted upon the shaft, a hollow printing-form adapted to be mounted upon the supporting device, and adjustable connecting mechanism whereby the printingform is adapted for longitudinal and circumferential adjustment with respect to the shaft, the printing-form and supporting device being connected by a spline, said connecting mechanism including an adjustable stop on the supporting device at one end, and means for locking the printing-form against said stop.

G. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, an externally-tapered su pporting device adapted to be mounted upon the shaft and tapered from end to end, an internally-tapered hollow printing-form adapted to be mounted upon the supporting device and correspondingly tapered from end to end, a device for unseating the printing-form, and adjustable connecting mechanism whereby the printing-form is adapted for longitudinal and circumferential adjustment on the shaft.

7. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, an externally-tapered supporting device adapted to be mounted upon the shaft, an internally-tapered hollow printing-form adapted to be mounted upon the supporting device, a device for unseating the printing-form, the printing-form and supporting device being connected by a spline,

and adjustable connecting mechanism where- IOC IIO

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by thc printing-form is adapted for longitudinal and circumferential adjustment on the shaft.

8. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, an externally-tapered supporting device adapted to be mounted upon the shaft and tapered from end to end, an internally-tapered hollow printing-form adapted to be mounted upon the supporting device and correspondingly tapered from end to end, a device for unseating the printing-form, and adjustable connecting mechanism whereby the printing-form is adapted forlongitudinal and circumferential adjustment on the shaft, said connecting mechanism including' an adjusting-stop on the supporting device at one end and means for locking the printing-form against said stop.

9. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, an externally-tapered supporting device adapted to be mounted upon the shaft, an internally-tapered hollow printing-form adapted to be mounted upon the supporting device, a device for unseating the printing-form, the printing-form and supporting device being connected by a spline, and adjustable connecting mechanism whereby the printing-form is adapted for longitudinal and circumferential adjustment on the shaft, said connecting mechanism including an adjustable stop on the supporting device at one end, and means for locking the printing-form against said stop.

10. The combination, substantially as de"- scribed, of an externally-tapered supporting device, an internally-tapered hollow printingform, a longitudinal sliding connection hetween the two, an adjustable stop or shoulder to adjust the printing-form longitudinally on the supporting device'and a clamping device to hold it in such adjusted position, a supporting and driving shaft, and a circumferentially-adjustable supporting connection between the supporting device and the shaft, whereby the printing-form may be adjusted both longitudinally and circumferentially with respect to the shaft and will then be positively held and driven in its adj usted position.

11. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, hubs carried thereby, a form-cylinder supported by and bolted to said hubs, devices whereby the form-cylinder may be circumferentially adjusted on the hubs, and a removable printing-tube adapted to be carried by the form-cylinder.

12. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, hubs carried thereby, an externally-tapered form-cylinder supported by and bolted to the hubs, devices whereby the form-cylinder may be circumferentially adjusted on the hubs, an internally-tapered printing tube or cylinder adapted to be carried by the form-cylinder, means for longitudinally adjusting and locking the printingtube in place, and means for unseating the printing-tube.

13. The combination, substantially as described, of a shaft, hubs carried thereby, a form-cylinder supported by and bolted to said hubs, devices whereby the form-cylinder may be circumferentially adjusted, a printing-tube adapted to be carried by the form-cylinder, a stop carried by one of the hubs for one end of the printing-tube, and adjustable means carried by the other hub for locking the printing-tube in place.

14. The combination, as set forth, of a suitable shaft or mandrel, a hollow rigid nonexpansible form-support of substantial thickness carried on the shaft, the formi-support having a tapering outer surface tapering from end to end, an exterior removable and replaceable hollow printing-form, the printingform having a tapering inner surface adapted to fit the form-support and to that end correspondingly tapered from end to end, and an outer non-tapering printing-surface and guides by means of which the position of the form upon the support may be fixed both circumferentially and longitudinally.

15. The combination, as set forth, of a suitable shaft or mandrel, a hollow rigid non-expansible form-support of substantial thickness carried on the shaft, the form-support having ataperingoutersurfacctapering from end to end, an exterior removable and replaceable hollow rounded printing-form, the printing-form having a tapering inner surface adapted to fit the form-support and to that end correspondingly tapered from end to end, and an outer non-tapering printingsurface and guides by means of which the position of the form upon the support may be fixed both circumferentially and longitudinally.

1G. The combination, as set forth, of a suitable shaft or mandrel, a hollow rigid non-expansible form-support of substantial thickness carried on the shaft, the form-support having a taperingoutersurface tapering from end to end, an exterior removable and replaceable hollow rounded printing-form, the printing-form having a tapering inner surface adapted to fit the form-support and to that end correspondingly tapered from end to end, and an outer non-tapering printingsurface that is continuous or unbroken and guides by means of which the position of the form upon the support may be fixed both circumferentially and longitudinally.

17. The combination with a form-support having a tapering outersurfacc taperingfrom end to end, of a removable and replaceable printingform having a correspondingly-tapered inner surface, and guides by means of which the position of the form upon the support may be fixed both circumferentially and longitudinally.

1S. The combination with a form-support having a tapering outersurface tapering from end to end, of a removable and replaceable printing-form having a correspondingly-tapered inner surface and a circumferentiallycontinuous outer surface adapted to be de- ICO IIO

by means of which the position of the form upon the support may be fixed both circumferentially and longitudinally.

In testimony whereof I have signed my :5 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD HETT.

Witnesses:

E. J. GRIsWoLD, D. HOWARD HAYWooD. 

